“Fencing, it’s wonderful to come have something to do. You see people that you haven’t seen in 20 or 30 years,” said Jeanette Starks-Faulkner, a Veterans Over 60 Fencer. “You come back and it’s fun. I have friends who are fencing at 90!”

Jeanette took home the gold medal for the Veterans over 60 division, even if it might not be as easy as it used to be.

“I didn’t know if I could get through the bout, I was cramping,” laughed Faulkner. “But this feels really good.”

And for those young swordsmen, these high stakes championships give them a great place to hone their skills and move towards their ultimate goal of one-day fencing for the US National Team.